August is always an interesting month for Indonesians because we celebrate Indonesia’s independence day. I have a lots nice memories about this days when I was child. I remember when I played a theatre in my school as a daugther of a hero who died during the war. I cried in the middle of school field that day. In the same day, I joined the english speech competition and won it. Another year, I joined the school choir for independence day ceremony in my region.
17 August is alwasy identic with the flag. We will see red and white flags and colorful flags installed in front of each resident’s house. Various competitions between communities are annually held to celebrate this day. Adventurers also want to take part by raising the red and white flag on the tops of the mountains.
That day was August 17, 2018. Some tourists had filled the Lake Kelimutu National Park area. The exoticism of this lake has become one of the leading destinations in East Nusa Tenggara. This volcanic lake is located on the peak of Mount Kelimutu which is considered sacred by the local community. There are 3 lakes here, each of them has different colors. The blue lake or “Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai” is believed to be a gathering place for young souls who have died. The red lake or “Tiwu Ata Polo” is a gathering place for the souls of people who have died where when they live they always commited crime. While the white lake or “Tiwu Ata Mbupu” is a gathering place for the souls of old people who have died. They believe that their spirits will forever dwell in this lake.
Watching the sun rise over Lake Kelimutu which that day were blue and red dark; feel the warmth of the morning while singing the Indonesia Raya song and raising the Red and White flag was a happy day celebration of independence, right?
What makes my trip to Ende special is the fact that this is the small town where Soekarno, 1st indonesian president spent his time for years as an exil under Dutch colonization. We visited the house of Soekarno that is located not far from the beach.
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